Lantana Police Memorial

A dedication ceremony took place this morning in the town Dear Wife works in. We live in the un-incorporated part of town.

Lantana · The phone call 32 years ago still brings tears to Victor Redding's eyes.

"Come on home, but don't hurry," the voice on the phone said. Redding's father, Police Sgt. Andrew Redding, was killed in the line of duty when a car hit his police cruiser.

Victor Redding, 53, was among about 100 people Wednesday at Lantana Police Department's Fallen Officer Memorial dedication at the police station. Family members of the two fallen officers as well as police officers from around the county showed up to dedicate the memorial during National Police Week.

The 20-foot by 20-foot, three-tiered memorial topped with a spire contains 3,300 gallons of water that cascades from it, completing the symbolic cycle of birth, life and death, Police Chief Rick Lincoln said. In the 31-member department's 84-year history, two officers have died after being hit by cars.

According to the latest available Florida Department of Law Enforcement figures, 16 officers were killed in 2004 in the state. Two of the deaths involved criminal activity. Nationwide, 155 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2005.

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Inspiration for the memorial came in 2001 shortly after the death of the second officer, reserve Lt. Alfred Garrison. The $100,000 memorial was completed with largely donated materials along with $40,000 from the community. The police department funded the remaining $60,000 through money confiscated in crimes.

Garrison, 78, lived in the same house with his family in the city since 1957. The World War II veteran who donated 800 hours a year to the city was known to bring his police scanner to dinner and keep it on while watching TV at night.

"My dad, I miss him very much but he died doing something he loved, and we should all be that fortunate," said Steve Garrison, 53, of Jupiter.

Lt. Garrison was killed directing traffic ousside our church after a Saturday 5:30 mass at the church dear wife and I attend and where she works. I doublechecked with the wife, the accident was in 2001. It seemed so recent.

Besides the two memorial stones for the officers, a stone was placed in the memorial for beloved ex-Lantana Officer Gary J. Buro, who worked with the department from 1995 to 2000. He was shot to death while working for the Chesterfield County, Va. Police on May 4. He was 34.

Victor Redding, of Liberty, S.C., is 11 years older than his father was when he was killed. He thinks about his father, a Korean War veteran, a lot, especially since his son is Andrew Redding II.

The article went on to note that no Boynton Beach police officer has died in the line of duty during the city's 86 year history.

My condolences to the Garrison, Redding and Buro families. The public should never forget the brave police who died protecting us.

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